ts. 



A.B.C. Capers 



-BY- 



SOEMPLE 




PRICE 25 CENTS 



Eldridge Entertainment House 

Franklin, Ohio ^it^ Denver, Colo. 

944 So. Losan Straet 



Money-Maidng Entertainment Novelties 
for Church, School or Lodge 



Miss Nibbs' Novelty Shop 

By Alta Becker. This is a novel and humorous en- 
tertainment, introducing 'Liza Ann, Miss Nibbs, two 
traveling salesmen, shoppers, mechanical dolls and 
mechancal maid of all work. A good little stunt where 
a short, clean, humorous number is desired. Plays 
about 30 minutes. Price, 25c. 

The Brightville Indoor Chautauqua 

By Bessie Baker and Nellie Hanna. Here is a brand 
new idea for an evening's entertainment. It is in 5 
parts, each part representing a day at Chautauqua. 
Gives wide scope for introduction of large cast and 
many specialties. Complete programs suggested as 
follows: Part 1, Chautauqua Concert Company; Part 
2, Living Pictures; Part 3, Musical Entertainers; 
Part 4, Farmers' Night; Part S, CoonviUe Jubilee 
Singers. Price, 35c. 

Sorepaw & Fells Indoor Circus 

By Margaret S. Bridge and Margaret H. Hahn. The 
Grand Annex and Musee, Freaks, Curiosities and 
Monstrosities, never were in it with the marvelous, 
amazing, mystifying array outlined in its pages. Ar- 
tistic, ambling, agile, 'andsome acrobats;, cajoling, 
cadaverous, costly, curious, cunning clowns; Hee- 
Shee, the Monkey Girl of Yucatan; all of these and 
many others will be seen in the Big Peerade before 
the show starts, ladies and gentlemen. Keep to the 
right — don't crowd. Price, 2Sc. 

As Ye Sew 

A "talking doll" missionary play by Dorothy Crich- 
ton. A lot of fun and some 'wholesome lessons are 
contained in the conversation of the dolls who dis- 
cuss the motives of their donors. Splendid for Young 
People's or Missionary Societies. 10 girls, 1 boy, or 
all girls. Time, 20 minutes. Price, 15c. 



Finding the Key 



A dialog and drill for 10 or 12 girls and boys. Suit- 
able for any religious program, but especially for 
Easter. Time, 20 minutes. Deals with problems of 
youth, recreations, etc.; also with those of Commun- 
ity Life and the present spirit of Unrest. Interspersed 
with suggested songs. Drill very effective. 25c. 



Eldridge Entertainment House 

FRANKLIN, OHIO also DENVER, COLO. 

944 S. Logan St. 



A. B.C. Capers 



/ 

A Playlet in One Scen^ for Twenty-eight Children, 
Fourteen Boys and Fourteen Girls. 



By SOEMPLE 



Copyright 1921, Eldridge Entertainment House. 



J 



OEC 19 19?! 

PUBLISHED BY 

ELDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE, 
Franklin, Ohio Denver, Colo. 



TS^^.^, ^^ 



7 qS^ 

CAST OF CHARACTERS » ^ ' 

Who take part — Tim, a little boy; Drum Major of 
A-B-C Troupe, a girl; A-C Troupe, A, C, E, G, I, K, M, 
O, Q, S, U, W, Y, thirteen girls; B, D, F, H, J, L, N", P, 
R, T, V, X, Z, thirteen boys. 



COSTUMES 

Tim — like any small boy. 

Drum Major — White dress and stockings, no shoes, 
white tam-o'-shanter; cap and instep of stockings fin- 
ished off with red pom-poms; five-inch letters of the al- 
phabet cut out of red paper or cloth pasted all over dress 
and cap; carries a stick wound with white and tipped 
with red A, at the other end two tiny bells swing. 

A, C, E, etc., — dressed like Drum Major, but no let- 
ters pasted on cap or dress; each carries in right hand 
her own letter of the alphabet, eighteen inches high, cut 
from cardboard and covered back and front with red 
paper, two small bells dangling at the bottom. The bells 
must be so small that they only tinkle faintly. 

B, D, F, etc. — White clown suits and stockings, no 
shoes, white pointed hats; hats and insteps decorated 
with red pom-poms; each carries his own letter, made 
like the girls' letters ; 



Stage Setting — A fireplace to the left front corner 
with a fire in the grate, made of red tissue paper over a 
light; a low hassock on a rug in front of fireplace; a 
chair here and there, a table with a lamp, books, maga- 
zines, and a workbasket, pushed against one wall, and 
pictures on the walls. Entrance is to the right. 

Time — Abou*^ ^"^* '^'^c+ four in the afternoon. 

Place — The ^^^^^6-00666 7 ^^n's home. 

©CI.D 5 94:J6 ^^ 



A. B.C. Capers 



(Enter Tim, a big sugar cooky iyi left hand, a prim- 
er or A-B-C hook in right. Crosses to fireplace and drops 
down on hassock, back to the fire. Takes a bite of cooky. 
Opens book and spreads it out on his knees.) 

Tim — Teacher said I should bring my book home 
and learn my A-B-C's. (Turns over pages.) A, B, C, D 
— (takes bite of cooky, half shuts book, keeping finger 
irt. place) A, B, — A, B — -what's next (opens book) O, yes! 
A, B, C, D, E — I wonder why they have so many A-B-C's. 
(Takes a bite of cooky, shuts book as before) A, B, — B 
— A, B, — B — C — A, B, C, — C — (takes a bite of cooky; 
opens book) A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H— Why, I believe 
there's an A-B-C for every boy and girl in Michigan! 
(or ichatever state he lives in) I wonder if teacher meant 
I should learn all of them. I don't believe she did. (He 
takes a bite of cooky: closes book as before.) Well, A — ■ 
Well, A— A— A— Why, I don't know the A-B-C's I had 
all learned up ! That's queer ! ( Takes a bite of cooky.) 
I wonder why they didn't stay learned. Maybe they like 
being in the book better than in my head. Maybe now 
they do. (Book falls to floor; Tim muses.) Wouldn't 
it be too bad if I learned them out of the book and they 
didn't want to fce learned out of it? (Takes last bite of 
cooky.) I believe I'll just eat a bite of my ginger cooky 
first, anyway. (Pulls a big ginger cooky out of his pock- 
et, and begins on that.) Why, I feel sleepy! That's, 
queer! I wasn't sleepy a little bit ago when I was chas- 
ing with Peter Dog. (Picks up book, yawns, opens it.} 
A, B,— C— D— E— F— (nods, book slips to floor.) A— 
B — (curls down on hassock fast asleep, cooky still in 
hand.) 

3 



A-B-C- Capers 



(Enter Drum Major. Tiptoes over to where Tim is 
asleep. Picks up book, flipping over the pages.) 

Drum Major — (muttering) I thought so. I thought 
so! (Shakes Tim by shoulder; Tiyn does not rouse.) Oh, 
ho ! Oh, ho ! Fast asleep ! A boy that can't learn his A-B- 
C's! A boy that won't learn his A-B-C's! A boy that 
doesn't like to learn hit A-B-C's! Oh, ho! Oh, ho! 
(Prances about, ivaving stick jeeringly.) Oh, ho! Oh, 
ho! (Darts to entrance, puts head out, calling loudly, 
and as fast as she can say them.) ABCDEFGHIJKLMN 
OPQRSTUVWXYZ! (Skips back to fire; A-B-C boys 
and girls rush in, dancing and bobbing u/p and doivn, not 
still a minute. Drum Major points stick at Tim and ad- 
dresses A-B-C's.) Here's a fine boy ! Here's a fine boy ! 
A boy that can't learn his A-B-C's! A boy that won't 
learn his A-B-C's! A boy that doesn't like to learn his 
A-B-C's ! 

A-B-C's — He can't learn us! He won't learn us! He 
doesn't like to learn us! That's droll! Why, we're lots 
of fun! 

Drum Major — And what good is that? He won't 
ever know you are lots of fun if he doesn't learn you. 

Z — Well, what are you going to do about it? We 
want him to learn us; don't we? 

Rest of A-B-C's— We do! 

Drum Major — There! There! That is why I sum- 
moned you all hither. I'll just put you through a sam- 
ple performance of your antics to show this fine boy, this 
fine boy, what he is missing. 

A — We'll show him, won't we? 

Rest of A-B-C's— We will! 

Drum Major — All right! All right! (Erect, rais- 
ing stick, and giving orders crisply.) Circus is starting! 
Roll call! (Pulls a paper out of pocket, unfolds it, and 
keeps her eyes on it during roll call.) Now! Ready! A. 

A— A. 

B—B. 



A- B-C- Capers 5 

C — C. (etc., to Z, each A-B-C calling out his own 
letter, still on the go.) 

Drum Major — {nodding and refolding and return- 
ing paper to pocket) All on hand ! Good ! Good ! (Rais- 
ing stick) Grand march! Fall into step, there! A, B, 
C, D! (Emphasizing as if saying, "left, right, left, 
right," takes her place at head of line, beating quick 
ynarch time with stick. A-B-C's follow, single file arid in 
proper alphabetical order, and go through a brisk, bob- 
bing -up-and-down march around stage, each A-B-C 
jumping out of line as he passes Tim, and shaking his 
letter at him.) 

A-B-C's and Drum Major — (singing as the march, 
to tune of "Twenty Froggies," keeping step to tune.) 

Us, your A-B-C's, don't spurn. 

Study, Tim, until you learn 

Each of us, from A to Z — 

A, B, C, D, E, F, G. 

We're chock full of jollity. 

Only learn us and you'll see; 

And we're wise as ten wise men — 

H, I, J, K, L, M, N. 

You can't spell your name, oh, ho! 

We know how the letters go. 

We will show you when you've said 

All of us from A to Zed. 

You can't read your heavy mail, 

From your daddy far a-sail. 

Learn us and we'll skim it through — 

0, P, Q, R, S, T, U. 

You can't read your story book, 
At the pictures you just look; 
Why, you hold it upsidedown 
Like a funny circus clown ! 
On its stories you can start. 
When you know our names, by heart. 
Come! Come learn us with a vim — 
V, W, X, Y, Z. Come, Tim! 



A'B-C Capers 



Drum Major — Enough! Enough! Into your places! 
(D. M. skips to position at Tim's far side. A-B-C's fonn 
half-circle around back and right of stage, center of line 
opposite Tim. The A-B-C's perform in center of stage, 
turned facing Tim. The audience must be able to see 
them also.) First performance! [Raises stick.) T! 
(T skips forward.) I! (I skips beside T.) M! (M skips 
beside I.) B\ (B skips forward in line with T, I, and 
M, but a space away from M.) R! (R skips beside B.) 
! skips beside R; W skips expectantly two or three 
steps forward out of half circle) Back, W. Didn't I 
say these were to be only sample antics? You wouldn't 
spell the boy's whole name for him, would you? He must 
learn to do that for himself. (W skips backward into 
place. Drum Major signals with stick and then beats 
time.) Now! All toegther! 

T, I, M, B, R and — (tripping back and forth two 
sidewise steps, keeping in same formation, sing-songily ) 
T, I, M, 

B, R, 0, 
What we spell 

You don't know. 
Hist! We started 

Out to spell 
Some boy's name — 

We won't tell, 
T, I, M, 

B, R, 0, 
What comes next 
You don't know. 
Don't know which of us 

To call. 
You can't spell your name 

At all. 
T, I, M, 

B, R, O, 
Learn us 

If you want to know. 



A- B-C Capers 7 

D. M. — (raising stick) Enough! Enough! Back 
to your places! First performance is over. (T, I, M, B, 
R and bow and skip backward to places in half-circle) 
Second performance! D! (D skips forward.) E! (E 
skips beside D; same for A, R, T, I, and M, who stand in 
line, leaving a space between DEAR and TIM; D. M. 
signals with stick and beats time.) Now, all together! 

D, E, A, R, T, I, and M — (tripping b«Lck and forth, 

two sideivise steps, sing-songily.) 

D, E, A, R, T, I, M— 
Frown and make believe — ahem! — 
Whist! We'll read that much for you; 
"Dear Tim," now you're eagier, to 
Know what's in the letter, ha! 
And who signed it, "From your fa — " 
(clap hands over their mouths.) 

Sh! Sh! Sh! We mustn't tell, 
Tim, himself, must learn to spell. 
Come, Tim Brown, you'll soon know how. 
If you learn your letters now. 

D. M. — { raising stick) Enough! Enough! Back 
to your places! Second performance is over! (D, E, A, 
R, T, I and M bow and skip backivard to places in half- 
circle.) Third performance! O! (0 skips out.) N! 
(N skips out beside 0; same for C, E, U, P, O, N, T, I, 
M, and E, who form a hne, leaving space between ONCE 
and UPON, UPON and A and A and TIME; when a let- 
ter is repeated, as in UPON, in ONCE, takes a back- 
wark skip out of the line, then skips aloyig back of other 
letters to new place assigned; H expectantly skips for- 
ward a few steps out of half-circle.) Back, H! Didn't I 
say and haven't I repeated these were to be only sample 
antics? You wouldn't tell Tim the whole story, would 
you? Tim must learn to read it for himself. (H skips 
backward into place; D. M. signals with stick and beats 
time.) Now, all together! 



A-B-C Capers 



0, N, C, E, U, P, A, T, I, and M— (tripping back 
and forth tioo sidetvise steps sing-songily.) 

Just 
Once up a time. 
Once up a time, 
Once up a time, 

Indeed 
We'll not a further word, 
We'll not a further word. 
We'll not a further word. 

To you read! 

For 
Boys must learn to read. 
Boys must learn to read, 
Boys must learn to read. 

Themselves 
All the fairies' tales, 
All the fairies' tales, 
All the fairies' tales, 

And elves'. 



Because 
We've not the time, 
We've not the time, 
We've not the time, 

To read 
To all the boys and girls, 
To all the boys and girls, 
To all the boys and girls, 

That plead. 

So 
Once up a time. 
Once up a time. 
Once up a time. 

There— Sh ! Hist ! 
Tim must read the tale himself. 
Must read the tale himself; 
Once up a time, 

There was— Sh! Whist! 



A-B-C Capers 9 

D. M. — (raising stick) Enough! Enough! Back 
to your places! Third performance is over! (Letters 
bow and skip backward to places in half-circle.) Fourth 
and last performance ! C ! (C skips out.) F ! (F skips 
out, but not next to C; same for all A-B-C's that have, 
not taken part in other performances; they do not stand 
in line nor remain in any given place, hopping about; 
bobbing up and down, turning somersaults, standing on 
their heads, ivhirling one another around, sometimes 
putting CH together or SW, as if about to make a word, 
continually doing something and alivays something dif- 
ferent.) Now, all together! (D. M. signals with stick 
and beats time.) 

C, F, G, H, J, K, L, Q, S, V, W, X, Y and Z—(sing- 
songily) 

Higgledy-piggledy, 

Here's a fix! 
Hit and miss, 

We're at our tricks. 

You must learn 

To sort us out. 
If you'd know 

What we're about. 

Puzzle out 

The mystery. 
Join in our 

Hilarity. 

Learn your A-B-C's, 

Tim Brown; 
Say us up, 

And say us down. 

Learn us, 

If you want to take 
Part in all the fun 

We make. 



10 A-B'C Capers 



Learn us, 

Learn your A-B-C's, 
Then our antics 

Will not tease. 

D. M. — (raising stick) Enough! Enough! Back 
to your places! (Letters hotv and skip to places in half- 
circle.) Grand march! Fall into step, there! A, B, C, 
D! (Takes her place at head of line, beating quick 
TYiarch time; A-B-C's follow in alphabetical order and 
march once around stage as before.) 

A-B-C's and D. M. — (singing as they march, to tune 
of "Twenty Froggies," and keeping step to tune.) 

Ho, Tim Brown, Tim Brown, good-by! 

Five o'clock and we must fly 

To our places in your book, 

That a moment we forsook. 

Just to let you taste, no more, 

Joys the future holds in store, 

If you learn us, A to Z, 

Ho, Tim Brown, Tim Brown — Sh! Flee! 

(Tim stirs at his name; with ivord "flee" A-B-C's 
break line and rush pell-mell to entrance; D. M., half 
across stage, stops, raises stick, speaks in loiu voice but 
sharply.) 

D. M. — Hold on there! (A-B-C's halt just within 
entrance, ready to flee if Tim ivakes up. D. M. watches 
Tim;[ a pause of a moment or two; Tim does not stiv 
again.) Roll call! (Pulls paper out of pocket, one eye 
on it during roll call, one on Tim..) Now! Ready! 
■ A— A! 
B—B ! 

C — C! (and so on, through alphabet, each A-B-C 
calling out his own letter in a loud whisper; at Z Tim 
stretches and A-B-C's tumMe over each other to get out, 
D. M. at their heels, whispering loudly, "Circus is over 
for today!" Z spraivls on the floor and D. M. pidls him, 



A-B-C Capers 11 



■out by the leg. Thn sits up, rubs his eyes, blinks andi 
stares around.) 

Tim> — Aw, they're gone! Now, I sha'n't ever know 
how to spell the rest of my name, nor what Daddy said 
in his letter after "Dear Tim," nor what the Once-upon- 
a-time-there-was story was going to be about, nor how 
to put the higgledy-piggledy A-B-C's together! (Spies 
his book on the floor, drops his cooky, claps his hands, 
and reaches for the book.) Oh! Oh! The A-B-C's 
aren't gone! They ^aid they were going back to their 
places in my book! And here they are! (Turns over 
pages.) A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I— Just like they marched! 
And they said they like to be learned out of the book, 
they want me to learn them out of the book! Oh, they're 
easy to learn! (Shuts book.) A-B-C-D-E — I'll soon 
know them all! And then what fun I'm going to have 
with them, spelling words and reading letters and stor- 
ies and unjumbling jumbles and lots of exciting things! 
What fun! E-F-G-H-I— 



CURTAIN 



Some Bright New 

Christmas Material 

First Aid to Santa 

By Ethel Sexton. A mighty bright playlet for 3 boys, 
2 girls and 10 acting dolls (girls and boys). Plays 30 
or 40 minutes. Price, 25c. 

The Christmas Chain 

By Lillian Pearson. A pretty sketch for 14 or more 
children. The Christmas Angel shows her complete 
Christmas Chain to two selfish sisters with happy re- 
sults. Plays about 20 minutes. Price 25c. 

How the Christmas Song Was Found 

By Lillian Pearson. A simp'e, but beautiful sketch 
for any number of children, 12 required. Shows the 
real spirit of Christmas and tells how the glad 
Christmas song was found. Time, 20 to 30 minutes. 
For day schools or church entertainments. Price 25c. 

Mr. Richey Changes His Mind 

By Lee Owen Snook. Story of a crabbed, v/ealthy 
employer and how at Christmas tiine the memory of 
his mother chansred his attitude toward his employes 
from that of a "driver" to a considerate comrade. An 
unexpected romance develops. 4 males, 4 females, 
and others, either high school or adults. Plays about 
20 minutes. Price, 25c. 

The Little Stranger 

A moving picture Christmas play, by Edna Randolph 
Worrell. This is really a pantomime, the different 
scenes being either announced or shown on screen by 
stereoptlcon. 4 scenes "The Night Before Christ- 
mas Home of Orphan Children," "The LittJe Stran- 
ger at the Door," "The Little Stranger Entertains," 
"Christmas Morning." A pretty entertainment for 
any number of children. Plays about 30 minutes. 25c. 

Ten Good Christmas Pantomimes 

By Ethel Eldridge. A collection that will add novelty 
and effectiveness to your program. Specific direc- 
tions for pantomiming some well-known hymns, songs 
and recitations — "Silent Night," . "Litt'e Town of 
Bethlehem," "When Good Old Kris Comes 'Round," 
"Favorite Carols," etc. Contains the music also. 40c. 

Eldridge Entertainment House 

FRANKLLN, OHIO also DENVER, COLO. 

944 S. Logan St. 



YOU WILL BE GLAD TO KNOW OF 

THESE NEW PUYS 

Training Mary 

By Mary Shaw Page. A bright 1-act play with sim> 
pie stage setting. William,' husband of Mary, essays 
to train Mary, especially along the lines of correctins 
carelessness. As tm always the case, William gets in 
deep water, but finally wades out. 2 males, 4 fc* 
males, and plays about 45 minutes. Price, 2Sc. 

The Hired Man's Courtship 

By Alice Cripps. A short; comedy-drama in 2 acts. 
Captain Edwards tires of wealth and the city, and 
procures work on Morton's farm, only to And that the 
farmer's daughter is an old sweetheart. Because of 
an intrigue on the part of the captain's cousin, an es> 
trangement takes place, which ends happily when the 
captain finds the source of certain stories atnd re- 
futes them. Aunt Hepsey, Jim and Ezra (colored), 
add comedy to the play. Plays about 45 minutes, 
and is for 3 males and 3 females. Price, 25c. 

Merely Anne Marie 

A comedy in 3 acts by Beulah King. 3 males, 5 fe- 
males. Time, 2V2 hours. The scenes are laid in a 
fashionable boarding house, and the characters are all 
distinct types and worth while. A successful play- 
wright, desiring to escape notoriety, seeks seclusion 
at Mrs. Teague's and becomes the hero of Anne Ma- 
rie, the dining room maid. The dialogue is bright, 
the situations clever and the story ends happily. 35c. 

A Bit of Scandal 

By Fannie Barnett Linsky. Comedy-drama in 2 acts. 
Francina, who is to play at the recital, composes her 
own number. On the evening of the recital, Mary 
Sherman, who precedes her on the program, plays 
Francina's compositions, which she has stolen. The 
reasons for the theft all come out later and of course, 
all ends well. Nine characters. Plays about I hour. 
Price, 35c. 

Miss Burnett Puts One Over 

By Ethelyn Sexton. A rollicking 1-act girls' play for 
6 characters. Barbara's mother has a friend, Ann Bur- 
nett, who is to visit the girls at college, -with the in- 
tention of giving a generous sum to the school. The 
girls, wishing o gain her good will, practice their 
"manners." Miss Burnett, however, appears in dis- 
guise and has much fun at their expense. All ends 
well and the school gets the money. Plays about 45 
minutes. Easy setting and costumes. Price, 25c. 

Eldridge Entertainment House 

FRANKUN. OHIO also DENVER, COLO. 

944 S. Logan St. 



<?= 




HALLOWE'EN HILARi 

Good Things To Keep The Ball Rolling 

A Bunch of Stunts for Hallowe'en 

A new book of doings, contributed by many wide- 
awake writers. Covers almost any kind of festival, 
party or entertainment you wish to give. Drills, 
games, stunts, decorations, etc. Price, 75c. 

The Fairy and the Witch 

A 1-act allegorical sketch for Hallowe'en, by A. D. 
Nelson. 1 adult, male or female, and any number of 
children. In this very picturesque little play, the 
Black Witch of Hallowe'en falls under the ispell of 
the White Fairy and superstition gives way to rea- 
son. Time, about 20 minutes. Price, 25c. 

The Frolic of the Witches 

By Jiianita Mae Gulp. This is a clever little drill es- 
pecially adapted for Hallov.re'en. Introduces flash- 
lights and brooms, and is for 11 girls. Price, 25c. 

Guess Who Song and Drill 

Something novel. Price, 25c. 

The Haunted Gate 

By Edith Wormwood. A clever play for Hallowe'en. 
The capture of the ghosts furnishes a good climax to 
the piay. 3 ma;es, 7 females. Plays from 30 to 45 
minutes. Price, 35c. 

Jimmy's Ghosts 

By Ceci": J. Richmond. A sketch for children. Five 
speaking parts with chorus of witches. Can easily be 
given tn any school room. Price, 15c 

Scarecrows A-Roamin^ 

An eccentric drill. Price, 25c. 

What To Do on Hallowe'en 

Compiled by Juanita Mae Culp. This is a really good 
coOection of helpful suggestions for this occasion. 
Suggestions for decorations, menus, parties, games, 
st'ants. recipes, a piay or two, and other good things. 
Purchasei-s will find themselves relieved from worry 
and trouble concerning Hallowe'en. Price, 40c. 

Fun With Fortune Telling 

Compiled by Mrs. G. L. Henson. Here is a book that 
wjil furnish fun and interest for any social gathering. 
Every one is interested in their "fortune" and this 
book is arranged to give you pleasure, either individ- 
uallv or as a Crowd. Price, 50c. 



Eldrid^e Entertainment House 

FRANKLIN. OHIO also DENVER, COLO. 

944 S. Logan St. 



